Pastor Stef's prayer based on Psalm 9

Lord, I can’t keep quiet about you.
As someone in love I have to boast and tell everyone about the things you do.
I cannot help but sing joyful songs about your love and holiness.
And when I do this my sin dies within me.
 
I know you are always there for me.
The things that people run to for security only brings them death. 
For that reason, you destroy these things for our own protection.
You dealt them a death blow on the cross.
Your enemies are defeated.
Their cities are smashed - annihilated into oblivion.
What were their names again?
 
Your rule is forever.
No one will ever forget your name.
You judge everything fairly and you rule with justice.
 
You are a place of healing for those who have been wounded and oppressed.
No matter how uncertain our lives may seem, you are the one we can hold on to. 
 
I want everyone else to be able to talk and sing about you as well.
But Lord, in many places in the world your people are not allowed to do this.
Do something Lord!
Protect your children from those who are persecuting them.
Topple their governments and put leaders in place who will allow your people to speak and sing freely.  
 
No nation who persecutes your people does well.
They dig their own graves and set their own traps.
You are a God who has ordered the universe in such a way that those who hurt others end up only hurting themselves.
Any nation who forgets about you will be forgotten by you.
While those who know they need you will never be forgotten by you.
 
Rise up, Lord.
People will not win.
Only God wins.
The resurrection of Jesus already proved that.
Wicked nations will be judged by you.
And when they see what is coming to them, they are going to do more than just pee their pants.
Humiliate them Lord, the way they humiliated others.
No one is going to get away with abusing God’s people.
Show them who’s boss and put them in their place.  

Devotion by Cora Goodyear
Psalm 9
A psalm of David
 
David praises God for dealing with his enemies in this psalm. He says in v8 that God will judge the world in righteousness, and he will govern the people with justice. David calls for praise to God for what he has done (v11) and says that God does not ignore the cry of the afflicted (v12). David asks God once again to deliver him from his enemies. But this time, he is even more confident because he knows –

1. God judged righteously for him previously (v4).
2. God ruined the enemy (v6).
3. God does not ignore the cry of the afflicted (v12).

 
Psalm 9:9-10 “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
 
Our Lord may not always deliver us immediately when we are oppressed or in times of trouble. But as v9, 10 says we can still always go to him for refuge and the more we know God, the more we will trust him. We will be confident like David and assured of his deliverance. We can go to him in prayer and state our circumstances and needs. We know that he is a righteous God, a powerful God and that he loves and cares for us. And even if we are not receiving the answer we think we should be right away – we can be assured that he has promised to never forsake us, if we seek him. Hebrews 13:5 says “… Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
 
We can trust in his promises.
 
Point: To remember God will never leave or forsake us.